Chapter twenty-two: They didn't believe me


Thomas walked Grace down the street. Neither of them had spoken and he could sense that Grace wasn't taking him being with Kate very well. He could feel that she was upset, but he wasn't sure what to say to her. As they neared her house, she finally spoke.

"I thought," Grace says with a hint of anger in her voice. "that you were courting me." Thomas said nothing. "Do you treat all the girls like that?"

He shakes his head. "No."

"You're a f**king bastard, leading a girl on like that."

"Grace," Thomas said kindly, yet firmly. "I'm sorry. It did seem like things were going to go there, but there was no declaration between us." She rolls her eyes. "Grace, I hadn't even tried to kiss you. If I was serious about you, I would have tried long before now, don't you agree?"

Grace turns towards him. "Do you really think she's out for this lifestyle? She's different than us."

"I'm aware of that fact." Thomas exhales as he begins mentally counting how many more houses they have to pass before he can drop Grace off and get back to Kate. Five more houses. "I know her past and real name. Kate's a lady and even though she doesn't belong down here with us, this is where she wants to be."

"You're certain she doesn't have an agenda?" Four houses now, they're almost there. "What would a rich lady like her, be doing down here anyway?"

"She told me why and I gave her my word I'd not betray her confidene."

"Are you taking her at her word, or have you investigated into her claims?" Three more houses.

"Believe me Grace," Thomas stated. ""Kate wouldn't lie to me about who she is. She needs my protection from her family."

Grace frowns. "If you haven't investigated into her claims, how can you be certain her family is as bad as she says?"

Two houses. "Grace, if I were a man who did apologies, I'd owe you one, but I'm not. You can't have been completely blind to see that I had feelings for her. I kept watching her while you and I were dancing."

"You turned her over to Kimber." Grace points out. "You asked me to go with you and then brought her along!"

"Because it wasn't a date, remember? I paid you to go out, it was a job." Grace flinched as they stopped outside her house. "Kate gave me hell for that whole thing with Kimber, but we've most passed that."

"Does she love you?" Grace asks her tone hesitant.

"Dunno know." he says honestly. "But I intend to make her love me. You're a good girl Grace…some man will love you."

Grace steps towards him, placing a hand on his neck, surprising him for a second. Her voice at one time could have been his undoing. "I love you."

Thomas is silent for a moment, studying Grace's face. "And I love Kate." The moment those words left his mouth, Grace removes her hand from his face. He's sorry for the look of pain on her face, but it can't be helped. "You can say it as much as you like, but there's no chance." He steps away from her, putting his hand in his pocket. "Goodnight Grace."

"She'll break your heart." She said softly.

Ignoring her words, he turned and walked back to the restaurant where Kate was waiting. He wasn't sure what she had on her mind, but she was a curious woman. She was as innocent as she appeared, but there was a feeling inside her that cried out to him. There was this deep desire to be loved and wanted, the hunger inside her rivaled his and he knew once she loved him that he'd have everything he needed in life. He suspected the reason why their emotions were progressing so fast, is that there was clear knowing between the two of them where this relationship was progressing. Neither of them would admit it, but they both knew it. Kate would just fight it harder than he would.

He reflected on how he told Grace that he loved Kate. Love, hadn't been anything on his mind, but the words had flowed out so easily. Part of him wondered if it was true.

As he approached the restaurant, he saw the lights going on and off every twenty seconds or so. He keeps his hand by his gun as he hurries towards the restaurant. He peers through the front door, to see Kate looking upwards at the ceiling before heading over to flip off a light. He exhales in relief.

He pushes the door open silently and closes it. Kate hasn't heard him. He approaches her, watching her as she turns the lights off again with a groan. "What are you doing?"

"Ah!" Kate whips around, flipping the lights on, her hand over her heart. "Stop scaring me!"

He laughs. "I don't do it on purpose Kate." He removes his coat and sets it on the nearest chair. "What are you doing with the lights?"

She bites her lip. "Atmosphere, but," he removes his gun and the holster and sets it on the table. "I find the electric lights make it impossibly bright and I thought candles were a bit too romantic."

He nods and steps towards a few of the lights. She says nothing, just watching him as he turns most of them off, except for the one over the gramophone.

"You have a gramophone?"

Kate nods. "Yeah." She bites her lip, a sure sign that she's nervous.

He steps towards her, hands in his pockets, as he survey's the dimly lit room. "What's all this for Kate?"

"Well, today was a wedding and we didn't get a chance to dance." He smiles, causing Kate to flush. It's been a while since he had feelings for a woman who was so easily affected by any little thing he did. "I figured, I'd leave with something to lighten your mind tonight. It's getting late so, one dance and then you have to go home."

Stickler for propriety, this one is. He approaches the gramophone and starts looking through her collection of albums, reading the various titles on the back. "Let me call you sweetheart?"

She makes a face. "Never cared for that song."

"Me either."

"'Oh, you beautiful doll', is out too. So is 'Moonlight bay'."

"I thought I was picking the song." He states.

"Sorry."

He looks at the al Jolson album. "Is…'You made me love you', any good?"

Kate swallows nervously. "Yes, it's a lovely foxtrot."

"Not what I'm looking for." He flips through a few records and he studies 'Girl from Utah' for a moment. there's a note attached to the record, which reads. They didn't believe me, is one of kern's best love songs yet! He glances at Kate, who's reaching for the note. "I made my choice."

She nods as he moves towards the gramophone. Kate bites her lip. "You're going with Clara's suggestion?"

"Yes. Title doesn't make it sound too romantic and it's getting late." He arches his brow at her. "You're the proper one, so, it might as well be this one."

Kate nods. "Agreed, it doesn't sound too romantic."

She puts the record on and places the needle in the correct spot. Thomas holds out his hand towards her as the light, string music begins to fill the empty restaurant. Kate takes his hand with a smile, only to blush when he pulls her against him in a close hold. He can sense her debating about negotiating for more space, but she relaxes in his arms. There's not much room to move in this restaurant anyway. Hopefully, this song isn't too romantic, because he really doesn't understand why all of his control seems to fly out the window where she's concerned.

And when I told them, how beautiful you are. They didn't believe me! They didn't believe me! he smiles, American's and their simple lyrics. Your lips, your eyes, your cheeks, your hair, are in a class beyond compare. Ok, maybe the song is really more romantic than they thought. You're the loveliest girl that one could see. Thomas adopts a more casual hold, draping his arms loosely around her waist. Kate hesitantly brings her arms up to rest on his shoulders. Her smile is soft; she feels so right and natural in his arms at this moment.

And when I tell them and I'm certainly going to tell them. that I'm the man, whose wife someday you'll be. Those words cause both of them to freeze in place. Kate's face flushes a vibrant red at those passionate words that surfaced out of nowhere. Thomas is temporarily struck dumb at the bizarre timing of those lyrics. They'll never believe me! They'll never believe me. that from this from this great big world you've chosen me.

As the music continued to play, Kate swallowed. "For God's sake, please, say something."

"Right." He can't say anything, so he opts to kiss her instead. Kate let out a moan, stumbling a few steps backwards. She lets out a groan as her hip bumps into a chair. Thomas grips her around the waist, lifting her up to seat her atop of the table. Kate instantly crosses her legs, so he moves to the side of her legs instead of parting them to step between them. that little gesture on his part causes her to smile faintly up at him as he reaches for her face with both of his hands.

He smiles back at her. "You're a wonder, Kate."

"Thank you, Mr. Shelby."

Those words cause him to smile as he leans forward and kisses her deeply. Kate surprises him by clinging to him. it was probably the music, which was still playing in the background, causing her to let her guard down for just a moment. he'd take advantage of it for a few minutes, but he wouldn't go too far.

However, when the baritone reprised the final verse, Kate broke the kiss and pulled away from him. "You need to go home now."

"Yeah," he nods, his breathing is heavy and he's slightly surprised that a few kisses from her could cause his heart to race so fast. "if they haven't locked me out of my place."

"There's a couch here you can crash on, for just the night." The moment those words leave her mouth; Kate looks stunned that she just offered that option to him.

He bobs his head slightly. "Now, I'm hoping they almost lock me out."

Kate laughs and gives him a gentle shove as she hops off the table. "Go on with you."

He laughs and moves towards the door, picking up his coat on the way. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Alright." she runs her hand nervously through her hair. "I can…bring you your lunch tomorrow, if you'd like."

He nods. "I would." She steps towards him as he heads to the door. "I'd like it better if you joined me." Kate nods as she opens the door, standing in the threshold as he passes by. He looks at her, her stances is relaxed, but there's still this magnetic pull towards her. she shifts nervously as he studies her. he takes a step towards her. "I want to kiss you good night."

Kate shakes her head. "No. no more kisses."

"Your mouth says no," he places one hand on the door, placed right above her head so he's hovering over her. "but that's not what your eyes are saying."

Kate groans, seemingly to instantly break at those words. "Fine, I do want you to kiss me, but I don't think," Thomas leans forward and kisses her deeply, causing her to moan. It's passionate, but brief and he keeps his hands on the door, not touching her. "that's…a good idea." She whispers out.

He exhales. "I know, I know." he steps away from her, tipping his hat to her. "Until tomorrow, miss Kovach?"

Kate smiles and dips into a curtsy. "Until tomorrow, Mr. Shelby."

With that, she turns and heads back into the restaurant. He waits until she's locked the door and pulled the curtains before heading down the street to Watery Lane. She was right; the dance had been something for him to reflect on. Even knowing that there'd be a storm once he got home, wasn't enough to wipe the faint smile off his face. For the brief ten-minute walk, he'd felt something he hadn't felt in a long time.

He felt, as he had never gone to the war.

But the moment he pushed the door open and saw Polly waiting there, a glare on her face, he felt himself going back down into the trenches.


Shariebery: Lol, Kate is going to get her in a few chapters, I promise that!

Idcam: Not much, but I think it was far more than what she was expecting.

It's ridiculous. No one was this freaked out when the H1N1 virus hit the US and over 12,000 people died! This whole thing is stressing my mother out to the max! I found her on the floor in the bathroom, after vomiting for the 3rd time and she wouldn't let me help her up off the floor because she was positive that she had it! I had run next door, got my neighbor who's an EMT and after examining her, he confirmed that it was her medication making her sick. (The doctor had asked her to take a few more pills.) After confirming with her doctor, he gave her some anti-nausea pills and she was better by the following morning!